From Watson’s study to interactive crime scenes and a real movie carriage, the immersive journey brings out the sleuth in every visitor at the annual event with a case to crack
Sharjah, April 26, 2025
There’s a mystery brewing at this year’s Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) this year – and it smacks of old books, gunpowder, poison and a lot of Victorian intrigue.
Step into Expo Center Sharjah where the 12-day annual festival is taking place and you’ll be transported to the iconic 221B Baker Street, complete with a recreated living room, Dr. Watson’s study, a crime scene, and even the actual carriage used in the Sherlock Holmes movie.
“We wanted children – and adults – to feel like they’re walking into a story,” says Syrian guide Omar Abdulaziz, a guide at the exhibition and a man at his sartorial best in an immaculate three piece suit that seems straight out of Savile Row. “This isn’t just about Holmes; it’s about the science, the psychology, and the methods that changed detective fiction forever.”
Poison, props and puzzles: A room full of hidden clues
The exhibition is built like an unfolding case file – not just a static display but an interactive whodunit that lets visitors step into the mind of the world’s greatest detective.
You begin in Sherlock’s recreated apartment – books stacked, walking stick resting by the fireplace, and an HMV gramophone, then move through Dr. Watson’s study with a bust of him watching by the window as a potential ruse for his bloodthirsty enemies, and finally into the heart of the mystery: a fully interactive crime scene.
“There’s shattered glass, burnt paper, and footsteps,” Abdulaziz goes on. “Visitors are asked to solve the mystery using Holmes-style deduction. Was the man driven mad by poison? Or was it all just a deception?”
The exhibition blends historical forensic techniques with Victorian aesthetics. “It’s a lesson in history, chemistry, and storytelling all in one,” said Fatima, a teacher guiding a group of young students through the exhibit.
A cinematic touch
Among the star attractions is the carriage used in the original Sherlock Holmes film, brought straight from London along with select props from the Sherlock Holmes Museum. There’s also a full-scale typewriter, film scripts, and even vintage cameras showing how crime scenes were captured before modern forensics.
“This a real investigative experience,” said Arkan, a die-hard fan of crime fiction and a Sherlock Holmes loyalist. “The attention to detail is amazing. From bullet trajectories to interactive Morse code decoding, visitors feel like they’re solving a real case.”
And then there’s the pièce de résistance: a multi-stage mystery game, where visitors use logic to test drag marks in sand, determine the impact behind a broken statue, and guess which plant actually caused the hallucinations that led to tragedy – or so the police thought. “It was like stepping into a storybook with riddles,” said 13-year-old Ahmed, who proudly cracked the case ahead of his classmates. “Sherlock would’ve been proud!”
Organised by a dedicated team of Sherlockians and curated with pieces that have toured museums worldwide, the exhibition is one of SCRF 2025’s most dynamic experiences ever, blending literature, history, science, and cinema into one immersive event like never before.
Can catch the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition in Hall 5 at Expo Centre Sharjah, part of SCRF 2025, running until May 4.
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